What is the RSU tax rate in Washington?

No Washington state income tax on vest wages for typical residents. Federal income tax plus FICA apply — rate depends on your bracket and YTD wages.

Does Washington tax RSU income?

Not at the state income tax level. Federal and payroll taxes still apply.

RSU tax rate Washington vs California?

California adds progressive state tax on vest wages. Washington does not — federal and FICA remain for both.

Why is federal withholding 22% on WA RSU vest?

Many employers use federal supplemental flat rate from IRS Pub. 15 — not a Washington state rate.

Washington RSU and FICA?

Same as other states — Social Security and Medicare apply to vest FMV as wages.

Moved from California — WA rate on old RSU?

California may tax portion of vest connected to CA work while resident or working there. Washington taxes post-move WA-sourced vest with no state income tax.

Remote worker in Washington — RSU state tax?

WA resident generally no state tax on wages; other states may claim if work sourced elsewhere — see remote work guide.

Which calculator for Washington RSU tax?

RSU tax calculator with Washington selected; Washington vs California comparison for move planning.

W-2 state boxes for Washington RSU?

Pure WA resident vests often show zero state tax withheld. Box 1 still includes full vest FMV federally.

Related Washington guides?

Washington RSU tax guide, California to Washington move guide, and no-tax-state role guide.

RSU Tax Rate in Washington | Federal & FICA, No State Tax

You work in Washington — Seattle, Redmond, or remote for a WA employer — and search for RSU tax rate expecting a single percentage. You want to know what you actually pay on vest day when Washington has no state income tax on wages, and how that compares to California or New York RSU tax.

Start here

Washington does not impose state income tax on wages. Your tax rate in Washington is effectively federal income tax plus FICA (Social Security up to the wage base, Medicare, and possibly Additional Medicare Tax on high earners) — plus any local payroll taxes if your city imposes them (rare for wages). Federal supplemental on may still use flat rates under IRS Pub. 15; that is , not your final . Prior-state sourcing may apply to vests earned while you lived elsewhere.

What you need before using this

confirmation with federal rate.
Washington residence and work location for year.
YTD salary from pay stub for FICA wage base math.
Prior state if you moved to WA during the year.
Federal filing status and estimated marginal bracket.

Washington tax law can change. Local payroll taxes and multi-state sourcing need fact-specific review.

Why this happens

Washington has no personal income tax on wages — is not subject to WA state income tax when you are a Washington resident on .

Federal income tax still applies to as nationwide.

Employers federal tax on vests using rules or aggregate methods per IRS Pub. 15.

Social Security tax applies until you reach the annual wage base announced by SSA.

Medicare tax applies to all wages with no cap; Additional Medicare Tax may apply above IRS threshold.

Washington does not require state supplemental on vests the way California or New York do.

Pay stub in WA may show zero state income tax line on — federal and FICA lines still increase.

Moving from California to Washington mid-year does not erase CA tax on compensation connected to CA workdays before the move.

Remote work for out-of-state employer may create other state sourcing — WA residency alone does not fix all multi-state issues.

Seattle payroll tax historically targeted certain employers — verify current local rules if your employer is in-city.

tax rate searches in WA often compare to CA — use state comparison calculators for move planning.

No state tax does not mean no gap — federal supplemental rates may still under- vs marginal bracket.

Estimated tax payments may still be needed for federal gap even with zero WA state liability.

Boxes 16–17 may show zero WA state wages for pure WA resident vests.

Stock options and follow same WA no-income-tax wage treatment at state level when properly sourced to WA.

What to check

Pay stub: federal and FICA on , state line zero for WA resident.
rate on confirmation vs federal supplemental tables.
YTD wages for Social Security cap status before large .
Move date if relocated from taxed state during year.
Prior-state allocation if multi-state.
Additional Medicare on large salary plus stack.
Federal gap calculator with WA selected.
Compare to California guide if evaluating move.

Assuming zero Washington tax means zero RSU tax overall

Washington eliminates state income tax on wages for typical residents. Federal tax and FICA still apply — often the largest tax components for high earners.

What to check in your documents

pay stub with federal and FICA lines.
Box 1 and Boxes 4–6 for federal and FICA totals.
confirmation method.
Move documentation if part-year other state.
Washington vs California calculator output if comparing offers.

Seattle tech employee with $50,000 RSU vest

Illustration only, not your tax situation.

Chris in Washington vests $50,000 . Chris pays no WA state income tax on the . Chris's pay stub shows federal supplemental , Social Security up to remaining wage base, and Medicare. Chris's effective tax rate for planning is federal marginal plus FICA components — not a single published WA rate. Chris runs the tax calculator with Washington selected and compares to prior California for move decision.

Questions people ask

What is the RSU tax rate in Washington?: No Washington state income tax on wages for typical residents. Federal income tax plus FICA apply — rate depends on your bracket and YTD wages.
Does Washington tax RSU income?: Not at the state income tax level. Federal and payroll taxes still apply.
RSU tax rate Washington vs California?: California adds progressive state tax on wages. Washington does not — federal and FICA remain for both.
Why is federal withholding 22% on WA RSU vest?: Many employers use federal supplemental flat rate from IRS Pub. 15 — not a Washington state rate.
Washington RSU and FICA?: Same as other states — Social Security and Medicare apply to as wages.
Moved from California — WA rate on old RSU?: California may tax portion of connected to CA work while resident or working there. Washington taxes post-move WA-sourced with no state income tax.
Remote worker in Washington — RSU state tax?: WA resident generally no state tax on wages; other states may claim if work sourced elsewhere — see remote work guide.
Which calculator for Washington RSU tax?: tax calculator with Washington selected; Washington vs California comparison for move planning.
W-2 state boxes for Washington RSU?: Pure WA resident vests often show zero state tax withheld. Box 1 still includes full federally.
Related Washington guides?: Washington tax guide, California to Washington move guide, and no-tax-state role guide.

When to get help from a tax pro

Multi-state in year you moved to or from Washington.
Employer withholds another state's tax while you live in WA.
City payroll tax questions for Seattle-area employer.
Stock options plus with international assignment.

Related calculators

Sources and notes

Primary tax claims on this page are supported by the official and secondary sources below. Broker and software links describe reporting mechanics — confirm rules against IRS or state guidance.

State residency and equity-income sourcing vary by state; examples cite California FTB guidance.

FTB Publication 1100 — Taxation of Nonresidents and Individuals Who Change Residency
California Franchise Tax Board · Official
Resident vs nonresident treatment, California-source wages, and equity compensation when residency changes.
FTB Publication 1004 — Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines
California Franchise Tax Board · Official
California sourcing for RSUs, stock options, and related equity pay for residents and nonresidents.

For learning, not filing

VestingTax.com is not a CPA firm or tax preparer. Grants, employers, and states all differ. Use the cited IRS and state sources above, your own documents, and a qualified tax professional before you make decisions from this guide.

Editorial standards Disclaimer

RSU tax rate in Washington: federal, FICA, and no state income tax